Sermons on Matthew 28:16-20

Matthew 28:16-20 Interpretation:

Taking Steps to Witness: Building Intimacy with God (The City Church) interprets Matthew 28:16-20 as a call to witness that is deeply rooted in intimacy with God. The sermon emphasizes that being a witness is not about pressure or expectation but about enjoying God and inviting others to encounter Jesus. The speaker uses the analogy of witnessing as sharing something too good to keep to oneself, similar to a sports fan sharing the joy of their team's victory. The sermon also highlights the Greek term for "witness" as someone who has seen, heard, or experienced something and is called to testify about it.

Embracing Doubt: Sharing the Transformative Message of Jesus (Hope Community Church of Willow Grove HCCWG) interprets the passage by focusing on the presence of doubt among the disciples. The sermon suggests that doubt is not a lack of faith but a part of the faith journey, especially when one has "skin in the game." The speaker draws a parallel between the disciples' doubt and Peter's doubt when walking on water, suggesting that the doubt is more about self-doubt than doubting Jesus. The sermon encourages embracing doubt as part of the process of discipleship.

Embracing Discipleship: A Call to Spiritual Growth (Double Oak Community Church) interprets the Great Commission as a call to spiritual maturity and growth. The sermon emphasizes that discipleship involves teaching and observing all that Jesus commanded, which requires ongoing learning and application. The speaker highlights the importance of reading the New Testament and growing in spiritual character, suggesting that spiritual maturity should be a top priority.

Faith and Doubt: Embracing the Journey Together (Grace CMA Church) interprets Matthew 28:16-20 by emphasizing the coexistence of faith and doubt. The sermon highlights that even the disciples, who were closest to Jesus, experienced doubt despite witnessing the resurrection firsthand. This interpretation suggests that doubt is a natural part of faith and does not disqualify one from being a follower of Christ. The sermon uses the Greek word for doubt, which means "to waver," to illustrate that doubt is not the opposite of faith but rather a part of the faith journey.

Embracing Doubt: A Journey to Deeper Faith (Elan Church) offers a unique perspective by focusing on the emotional and psychological state of the disciples after the resurrection. The sermon suggests that the disciples' doubt was not just intellectual but also emotional, stemming from unresolved grief and unmet expectations. This interpretation uses the analogy of the 1980s pop band Milli Vanilli, who were exposed as lip-syncing, to illustrate how doubt can make one feel like a fraud. The sermon emphasizes that Jesus understands these moments of doubt and meets us in them, providing reassurance and understanding.

Prophesying Life: Empowering Outreach and Global Missions (Hope City Church) interprets Matthew 28:16-20 by emphasizing the authority in the names of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The sermon highlights that in the original language, names meant power and authority, drawing an analogy to how a powerful name like Oprah's can open doors. This interpretation underscores the authority believers have when baptizing in the name of the Trinity.

Empowered Living: Embracing Authority and the Holy Spirit (Matt Bachtold) offers a unique perspective by focusing on the authority given to Jesus and how it empowers believers. The sermon uses the analogy of a father tossing car keys to his child, symbolizing the responsibility and authority given to the disciples. It emphasizes that Jesus' authority is the foundation for the Great Commission.

Embracing Our Responsibility to Lead Others to Jesus (Northpointe Community Church) interprets the passage by highlighting the disciples' initial doubt and the responsibility given to them despite their imperfections. The sermon uses the analogy of a father tossing car keys to his child, symbolizing the responsibility and authority given to the disciples. It emphasizes that Jesus' authority is the foundation for the Great Commission.

Embracing the Great Commission: Discipleship in Action (Underwood Baptist Church) interprets the passage by focusing on the holistic nature of the Great Commission, emphasizing both going and making disciples. The sermon highlights the importance of obedience, worship, and addressing doubt, using the analogy of a calf obeying its mother to illustrate obedience to God's call.

Change Your World: Embracing the Great Commission (Redemption Lakeland) interprets Matthew 28:16-20 by emphasizing the ordinariness of the disciples and the extraordinary nature of their commission. The sermon highlights the Greek word for "go" as a continuous verb, suggesting an ongoing mission in everyday life. The analogy of sharing meals, as Jesus did, is used to illustrate how simple acts can fulfill the Great Commission by building relationships and spreading the gospel.

Urgently Sharing the Gospel: Our Great Commission (Community Alliance Church) interprets the passage by focusing on the authority of Jesus and the urgency of the mission. The sermon discusses the Greek analysis of the text, emphasizing that the command to make disciples is not in human strength but through Christ's authority. The analogy of VE Day is used to convey the urgency and importance of spreading the gospel.

Faith in Action: Embracing God's Call Together (South Lake Nazarene) interprets the passage by addressing the relationship between doubt and faith. The sermon suggests that faith is demonstrated through obedience, even amidst doubt. The analogy of Peter walking on water is used to illustrate faith in action, emphasizing that faith is proven by obedience to God's call.

Navigating Faith Deconstruction: A Journey of Understanding (Seneca Creek Community Church) interprets the passage by highlighting the presence of doubt among the disciples. The sermon suggests that doubt is a natural part of faith and that Jesus commissions even those who doubt. The analogy of deconstruction is used to explain how questioning can lead to a deeper understanding of faith.

Empowered to Share: The Call to Evangelism (Kernersville Wesleyan Church) interprets Matthew 28:16-20 by emphasizing the authority of Jesus as a foundation for the Great Commission. The sermon highlights the importance of understanding Jesus' authority as trustworthy and contrasts it with the misuse of authority seen in the world. The sermon also uses the analogy of Jesus' authority being like a trusted leader who empowers others to carry out a mission.

Embracing True Discipleship: The Great Commission (The Collective Church) interprets Matthew 28:16-20 by focusing on the concept of discipleship as a deep, relational process akin to a mentorship. The sermon uses the analogy of physical training and mentorship to illustrate the process of making disciples, emphasizing that discipleship involves teaching, accountability, and transformation.

Matthew 28:16-20 Theological Themes:

Taking Steps to Witness: Building Intimacy with God (The City Church) presents the theme of intimacy with God as foundational for witnessing. The sermon suggests that witnessing flows naturally from a deep relationship with God, where enjoyment and evangelism go hand in hand.

Embracing Doubt: Sharing the Transformative Message of Jesus (Hope Community Church of Willow Grove HCCWG) introduces the theme of doubt as a natural and acceptable part of the faith journey. The sermon emphasizes that doubt does not disqualify one from being a disciple or a witness.

Embracing Discipleship: A Call to Spiritual Growth (Double Oak Community Church) focuses on the theme of spiritual maturity as essential for discipleship. The sermon highlights the importance of growing in spiritual character and making spiritual maturity a top priority.

Faith and Doubt: Embracing the Journey Together (Grace CMA Church) presents the theme that doubt is not the opposite of faith but a component of it. The sermon argues that doubt can coexist with faith and that Jesus' response to doubt is one of reassurance rather than condemnation. This theme challenges the traditional view that doubt is a sign of weak faith.

Embracing Doubt: A Journey to Deeper Faith (Elan Church) introduces the theme of Jesus' empathy and understanding in moments of doubt. The sermon suggests that Jesus intentionally created space for the disciples to process their doubts and emotions after the resurrection, highlighting His compassionate nature.

Prophesying Life: Empowering Outreach and Global Missions (Hope City Church) presents the theme of authority in the Trinity, emphasizing that believers are empowered by the authority of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit when fulfilling the Great Commission.

Empowered Living: Embracing Authority and the Holy Spirit (Matt Bachtold) introduces the theme of not being defined by failures or doubts, but rather by Jesus' authority and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. It emphasizes the transformative power of Jesus' victory and the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding believers.

Embracing Our Responsibility to Lead Others to Jesus (Northpointe Community Church) highlights the theme of God qualifying the called, emphasizing that Jesus entrusts the Great Commission to imperfect disciples, demonstrating that God's power is made perfect in weakness.

Embracing the Great Commission: Discipleship in Action (Underwood Baptist Church) emphasizes the theme of holistic discipleship, highlighting the importance of making disciples, baptizing, and teaching. It underscores the need for obedience and addressing doubt in fulfilling the Great Commission.

Change Your World: Embracing the Great Commission (Redemption Lakeland) presents the theme of world-changing through ordinary actions, emphasizing that every Christian is called to be a catalyst of God's grace in their daily lives.

Urgently Sharing the Gospel: Our Great Commission (Community Alliance Church) introduces the theme of the Great Commission as a universal call for all Christians, not just the apostles, emphasizing the role of every believer in spreading the gospel.

Faith in Action: Embracing God's Call Together (South Lake Nazarene) explores the theme of faith as an active, obedient response to God's call, suggesting that faith and obedience are inseparable.

Navigating Faith Deconstruction: A Journey of Understanding (Seneca Creek Community Church) discusses the theme of doubt as an integral part of faith, suggesting that questioning can lead to spiritual growth and maturity.

Empowered to Share: The Call to Evangelism (Kernersville Wesleyan Church) presents the theme of evangelism as a mandate for all believers, emphasizing that sharing faith is not just for encouragement but for conversion. The sermon challenges the cultural notion that sharing faith is inappropriate, arguing that it is a direct command from Jesus.

Embracing True Discipleship: The Great Commission (The Collective Church) introduces the theme of discipleship as a lifelong commitment that requires counting the cost, complete surrender, and prioritizing Jesus above all else. The sermon challenges the idea of being a passive Christian and calls for active participation in making disciples.

Matthew 28:16-20 Historical and Contextual Insights:

Taking Steps to Witness: Building Intimacy with God (The City Church) provides insight into the cultural context of witnessing in the early church, where the term "witness" was understood as someone who testifies to what they have seen, heard, or experienced.

Embracing Doubt: Sharing the Transformative Message of Jesus (Hope Community Church of Willow Grove HCCWG) offers a historical perspective on the disciples' doubt, suggesting that it was not uncommon for followers of Jesus to experience doubt, even after witnessing the resurrection.

Empowered to Go: Living the Great Commission (Exponential Church) provides historical context by explaining that the Great Commission was given to ordinary people, not spiritual giants. The sermon emphasizes that the disciples were flawed and prone to doubt, making the commission accessible to all believers. This context helps listeners understand that the call to make disciples is not limited to those with exceptional faith or abilities.

Prophesying Life: Empowering Outreach and Global Missions (Hope City Church) provides insight into the cultural significance of names in biblical times, explaining that names carried power and authority, which shapes the understanding of baptizing in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Change Your World: Embracing the Great Commission (Redemption Lakeland) provides historical context by explaining the ordinariness of the disciples and the vastness of the task they were given, highlighting the miraculous spread of Christianity from 11 men to 2.4 billion people.

Urgently Sharing the Gospel: Our Great Commission (Community Alliance Church) offers historical insights into the cultural and religious context of the disciples, explaining the significance of Jesus' authority in a world where Roman power was dominant.

Embracing True Discipleship: The Great Commission (The Collective Church) provides historical context about the first-century Jewish practice of discipleship, where young disciples would follow a rabbi closely to learn and emulate their teachings. This context helps to understand the depth of commitment Jesus was calling for in the Great Commission.

Matthew 28:16-20 Cross-References in the Bible:

Taking Steps to Witness: Building Intimacy with God (The City Church) references Acts 1:8, where Jesus tells the disciples they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them and will be his witnesses to the ends of the earth. This passage is used to emphasize the empowerment of the Holy Spirit for witnessing.

Embracing Doubt: Sharing the Transformative Message of Jesus (Hope Community Church of Willow Grove HCCWG) references the story of Peter walking on water (Matthew 14:29-31) to illustrate the nature of doubt as self-doubt rather than doubting Jesus.

Faith and Doubt: Embracing the Journey Together (Grace CMA Church) references Luke 24, where Jesus' followers are frightened and filled with doubt upon seeing Him after the resurrection. This cross-reference supports the sermon’s point that doubt was a common experience even among the earliest followers of Jesus.

Embracing Doubt: A Journey to Deeper Faith (Elan Church) references John 20, where Thomas expresses his doubt about Jesus' resurrection. The sermon uses this passage to illustrate that doubt is a natural response and that Jesus meets us in our doubts, offering evidence and reassurance.

Prophesying Life: Empowering Outreach and Global Missions (Hope City Church) references Acts 1:8, explaining that the apostles were to receive power from the Holy Spirit to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth. This supports the Great Commission by highlighting the geographical scope of their mission.

Empowered Living: Embracing Authority and the Holy Spirit (Matt Bachtold) references Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20-21, and Acts 1, explaining Jesus' final words and interactions with the disciples before his ascension. These passages support the Great Commission by emphasizing Jesus' authority and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

Embracing Our Responsibility to Lead Others to Jesus (Northpointe Community Church) references Acts 1, explaining the disciples' question about the restoration of the kingdom and Jesus' response about the coming of the Holy Spirit. This supports the Great Commission by highlighting the disciples' empowerment and mission.

Embracing the Great Commission: Discipleship in Action (Underwood Baptist Church) references Acts 1:6-8, explaining the disciples' question about the kingdom and Jesus' response about the Holy Spirit's power. This supports the Great Commission by emphasizing the disciples' mission to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth.

Change Your World: Embracing the Great Commission (Redemption Lakeland) references Luke 5, where Jesus calls Levi (Matthew) and shares a meal with tax collectors, illustrating the relational aspect of the Great Commission.

Urgently Sharing the Gospel: Our Great Commission (Community Alliance Church) references Acts 6, 8, 11, 13, and 18 to demonstrate that the Great Commission was carried out by all believers, not just the apostles, highlighting the role of early Christians in spreading the gospel.

Faith in Action: Embracing God's Call Together (South Lake Nazarene) references James 2 to discuss the relationship between faith and works, emphasizing that faith is demonstrated through action.

Navigating Faith Deconstruction: A Journey of Understanding (Seneca Creek Community Church) references the Great Commission in Matthew 28, highlighting the presence of doubt among the disciples and suggesting that doubt is a natural part of faith.

Empowered to Share: The Call to Evangelism (Kernersville Wesleyan Church) references Acts 1:8, where Jesus tells the disciples they will receive power from the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses. This passage is used to emphasize the empowerment believers receive to fulfill the Great Commission.

Embracing True Discipleship: The Great Commission (The Collective Church) references Luke 14:28-30, where Jesus talks about counting the cost of discipleship. This passage is used to highlight the seriousness and commitment required to be a true disciple.

Matthew 28:16-20 Christian References outside the Bible:

Embracing Doubt: Sharing the Transformative Message of Jesus (Hope Community Church of Willow Grove HCCWG) references Jim Putnam, who describes a disciple as someone who hears Jesus say, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men," emphasizing the process of becoming a disciple maker.

Faith and Doubt: Embracing the Journey Together (Grace CMA Church) references Oz Guinness and his book "In Two Minds," which discusses the nature of doubt and its role in faith. The sermon uses Guinness's explanation that doubt means being in "two minds" to argue that doubt is not the opposite of faith but a part of the faith journey.

Embracing Doubt: A Journey to Deeper Faith (Elan Church) references theologian William Barclay, who argues that a faith that has wrestled with doubt is stronger than one that has not. This reference supports the sermon’s theme that doubt can lead to a deeper, more resilient faith.

Prophesying Life: Empowering Outreach and Global Missions (Hope City Church) references Charles Spurgeon, quoting him on the importance of reviving reverence and putting more of God's word into sermons. This supports the emphasis on the authority of God's word in fulfilling the Great Commission.

Change Your World: Embracing the Great Commission (Redemption Lakeland) references Tim Chester's book "A Meal with Jesus," which emphasizes the significance of meals in Jesus' ministry as a means of building relationships and spreading the gospel.

Navigating Faith Deconstruction: A Journey of Understanding (Seneca Creek Community Church) references Jacques Derrida's concept of deconstruction and Daryl Van Tongeren's work on faith deconstruction, suggesting that questioning can lead to a deeper understanding of faith.

Empowered to Share: The Call to Evangelism (Kernersville Wesleyan Church) mentions the Barna Research Group, which conducted a study showing that many Christians believe it is wrong to share their faith for conversion. This reference is used to highlight the cultural challenge of evangelism and the need to adhere to the biblical mandate.

Matthew 28:16-20 Illustrations from Secular Sources:

Taking Steps to Witness: Building Intimacy with God (The City Church) uses the analogy of a sports fan witnessing to their team's victory to illustrate the joy and naturalness of sharing the gospel.

Embracing Doubt: Sharing the Transformative Message of Jesus (Hope Community Church of Willow Grove HCCWG) uses the analogy of a panic attack to describe the disciples' fear and doubt when they first saw the resurrected Jesus.

Embracing Doubt: A Journey to Deeper Faith (Elan Church) uses the story of Milli Vanilli, a pop band exposed for lip-syncing, as an analogy for how doubt can make one feel like a fraud. The sermon uses this illustration to emphasize that doubt is a common experience and that Jesus understands and meets us in our moments of doubt.

Empowered Living: Embracing Authority and the Holy Spirit (Matt Bachtold) uses the analogy of a father tossing car keys to his child to illustrate the responsibility and authority given to the disciples. This secular analogy helps convey the weight of the Great Commission.

Embracing Our Responsibility to Lead Others to Jesus (Northpointe Community Church) uses the story of a child receiving a remote control car as a birthday gift to illustrate the disciples' surprise and responsibility when Jesus entrusted them with the Great Commission. This secular story helps convey the unexpected nature of the disciples' mission.

Change Your World: Embracing the Great Commission (Redemption Lakeland) uses the example of Steve Jobs and the iPhone to illustrate how one person's vision can change the world, drawing a parallel to the impact of the Great Commission.

Urgently Sharing the Gospel: Our Great Commission (Community Alliance Church) uses the historical event of VE Day to illustrate the urgency and importance of spreading the gospel, comparing it to the celebration of victory in Europe.

Faith in Action: Embracing God's Call Together (South Lake Nazarene) uses the example of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's resistance to the Nazi regime to illustrate faith in action, emphasizing the importance of obedience to God's call even in difficult circumstances.

Empowered to Share: The Call to Evangelism (Kernersville Wesleyan Church) uses the example of cancel culture to illustrate the fear of sharing faith. The sermon describes how people are afraid of being "canceled" for their beliefs, which can hinder evangelism.

Embracing True Discipleship: The Great Commission (The Collective Church) uses the analogy of physical training and mentorship to illustrate discipleship. The pastor shares personal experiences of being mentored in physical fitness to draw parallels to spiritual mentorship and growth in discipleship.